Beautiful Flowers & Another Finish

Hope that all of you Mothers had a very special Mother's Day.  Our children made my Mother's Day weekend extra special by coming here and there over Saturday and Sunday.  It was fun, but a little exhausting, as my dear husband assisted everyone in making meals on both days!  I felt like a little pampered queen!  I received lovely flowers and cards, some of which made me cry, with their sweet, heartfelt sentiments.  I am blessed beyond measure!

Love the Ladybug!

I adore red carnations!



Daughter, Carra, with "Miss" Ella and her favorite bear, 
"A-Ma", whose name we think means "Grandma" because Ella loves Grandma's teddy bear collection!

Drawn Thread "May" Mini_Pocket Calendar

Closeup View

Calendar Cover Lining

New  Start for a Friend's Birthday at the end of the Month, just started yesterday, but it's stitching up nicely.....I love the soft colours of this design!


Whoops.....I've got to watch the time.  Carra and Ella are picking me up for lunch and to spend the afternoon together at their house for a change.  Fun! Fun! Fun!


Enjoy your day, and hope that you have just a little time for some stitching sometime today too!


Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You!

Some Stitching Goodies & Blessings

My exciting news for this weekend is that I received a package of stitching goodies from the Rhode Island Stitchers' Giveaway.  When they notified me that I had been selected, out of a random drawing, to be the recipient of their stitching giveaway, I couldn't believe the words I was reading on the email.  Since I can't recall the last time, if ever, that I have won anything, I really was speechless!  Isn't this great?

Thank You to the Rhode Island Stitchers!  Check out their blog (listed here)

Other stitching news to report is that I finally picked up LHN "Exodus 20:16" from my framer's, and I love how the frame I selected compliments the piece so nicely.  Now to find a good place to hang it, among my many other stitched pieces....Hmmm

Hopefully, in between having family and friends here tonight and tomorrow afternoon to celebrate Mother's Day with everyone, there will be a little peaceful time left over to take a few stitches on my latest small project, Drawn Thread's "May Calendar Cover".  I just have to stitch some little flowers, which are composed of Smyrna Cross and Boss Stitch, and they are truly fun to do, and such pretty colours too.  So next week I will put it together with a complimentary lining fabric.  They are so much fun to stitch and go fairly quickly.  It is the finishing that takes more time and patience.

To all of you, who are Mothers, soon to be Mothers, or if you are planning something special for your own Mother, I wish all of you a very happy, blessed and lovely Mother's Day!

Love and Blessings to You!

More Fabulous Giveaway News!!

While checking out some of my favorite blogs tonight, I clicked on "Cranberry Samplings" by Deborah.  Her stitching is always amazing, but you wouldn't believe the incredible BBD designs piece that she is stitching for a very special giveaway!   Please go to her blog for a peek, and an opportunity to win her giveaway!

Some Giveaway News ....Please take a peek!

There are two beautiful giveaways going on right now that I would like to share with you.  The first one is a "Romantic Cottage Sachet Giveaway", to be held on May 15, 2011 at "A Gathering Place".  Please go to the website for entry details.

 The second giveaway is called "Country Charm Giveaway" from "A Delightsome Life".  See their button on my left side bar, and please visit their lovely website for details.

Crossing in Stitches With You!

Blooms and Stitching!

Thank you to so many of my dear followers, who left me such sweet blessings and words of appreciation of my Easter banner.  Your comments mean so much to me!

Just have to show you Miss Ella's Easter dress, albeit a week later, but isn't it really cute?  She wore a pink long sleeved "onesy" underneath it with white tights, and a raspberry sweater.  I don't have a picture of her wearing it, because she was too tired for pictures and had to be put in her jammies for bed.....

Isn't this such a sweet little collar, complete with it's beautiful pink cross-stitched roses?  I just fell in love with it when I saw it in the store, and knew that it would be perfect for her.

Daughter Carra and Miss Ella in her jammies, wearing a pink plush "bunny earred" hood (too adorable for words), ready to go home after the family dinner.

Last week was a bit of a blur, but I did manage to get some time to myself for some relaxing stitching on a few projects.  At long last, I completed my stitching piece, "Deepest Love", as a banner, and I am happy with the way it has turned out.  When I was looking for some buttons in my button box, I found three little gold filigreed hearts, which I thought were just perfect to sew below the tabs.  What do you think?

Over the weekend, I started working on my "May" Drawn Thread Calendar Cover, and it is really fun to stitch.  I love the different stitches that are used in so many of the Drawn Thread pieces.  It is always a nice challenge to have pieces with some more interesting stitches to do.  The more detailed, the more I enjoy it!

Here is a preview of my progress thus far...

This past Saturday, my husband, Bruce and I took a day trip to "Celebrations of Needlework" in Nashua, New Hampshire.  What a royal treat....like a huge candy shoppe for stitchers!  One of my stitching friends, Linda, from Vermont, drove down to spend the day with us.  She and I met at a Stitcher's Hideaway retreat about 6 years ago, and we try to get together at least once a year, either at a stitching event or sometimes we meet in Vermont for a day or two in the summer months.  We shopped, had lunch out of the hotel, came back for some more shopping, and before we knew it, our day had come to an end, and it was time to say "Good-Bye" til next time.....   Great fun though!

Here is some of my stitching stash collected in the vendor's mall.  I was fairly controlled this time, as I have so many unfinished projects calling to me at home.....as we stitching addicts all do, right?  My favorite little treat was the precious little sheep tape measure (see him in the right upper corner?)  He is just too cute!!  

Well, time to get off the computer so that I can get in some stitching time before my dear husband gets home and will be needing some dinner!  My stitching chair and a cup of tea are calling me!

Crossing in Stitches With You Once Again, Dear Friends!

Good Friday and the Symbol of His Promise

For many Christians around the world, today is Good Friday, a very somber day of rememberance of the sacrifice made by our Lord, Jesus upon the cross, when He gave His life for the sins of all mankind, that we who believe in Him may have eternal life.  Every year, on this day, my heart weighs heavily in my chest, but thankfully, this is NOT the end!   We have hope renewed, on Easter morning, because the light of Christ came back into our lives when God raised Jesus from the grave to new life for all eternity!

This Easter, I finally put the finishing touches on a very beautiful piece, that I have had in my WIP box for quite a while, but this year I was determined that it would be finished in time to hang up for Easter.  It is appropriately titled "Easter's Promise", by Mike Vickery.  I absolutely loved stitching this wonderful design with it's beautiful cross, surrounded by the beauty of spring's glorious blooms of colour too.

                                     Materials:  Navy 28 Count Lugana

                                                              DMC Fibers

                                                              Brass Hammered Double Bell Pull

Just thought that you might enjoy a few close-up views too.  This is truly one of my most treasured pieces that I have ever stitched.  

This is one of my favorite hymns, called 

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"

(by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748)

"When I survey the wondrous cross,

On which the prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.  Amen.

Easter Blessings!

A Blogoversary Giveaway...

Have you checked out the wonderful 3rd Blogoversary Giveaway at Angela's "Hooked on Stitches".  She has something really special to give away to a very lucky stitcher, and her finishes are just fabulous too.  So, hope that you will check it out!

A Wonderful Day!

Why was today such a wonderful day?  Well, first of all, it is Saturday and a day all to myself to do whatever I want to do.  So, what did I do?  One of my very dearest friends, Martha, came over for morning tea and muffins and we spent a couple of hours just chattering away about everything under the sun.  Between my being "under the weather" for almost a month, and Martha having to clear out rooms that were water damaged from winter snows, so that repairs can be made, we just haven't had any time to get together.  So today was a great blessing for us to spend some special time with one another.

I also finished putting together my BBD " Remember Me" pincushion.  The next time that I do the finishing of another similar piece, I think that I will attach the lace between the "Right" sides together, BEFORE I stitch up the piece, leaving the opening for turning it right sides out.  It would have been much easier than trying to whip stitch it to the perimeter of the pincushion after it has been filled.  Ah well.....isn't that how we learn?  Here is my finish.  It is filled with "Lavender", which gives off an incredible scent, but was a bit overpowering  while I was sewing on the lace edging!

Then I spent a little time before dear husband came home from work, stitching a bit an Easter Egg Pin Keep  that I hope can be finished before Easter, called "Easter Frills" (With thy Needle & Thread) .  Hopefully I will be able to make more progress tonight after supper.  Isn't it a cute design?  I love it!

Well, all for now.  I have been looking at stitching blogs for a while and catching up on some emails, and I will never get supper started and get to my stitching if I don't get going!

Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You Again!

Spring Has Sprung At Last!

For the first time, today actually feels like it is finally springtime!  It started off a little cloudy and chilly this morning, but as the progressed, by noontime, it was sunny and warm outside...around 75 degees.  Definitely warmer outside than inside the house, for a change.  The flowers are starting to show green shoots in the flower beds too.

We celebrated Miss Ella's FIRST BIRTHDAY!  Where has this year gone so quickly?

Ella Claps While Everyone Sings "Happy Birthday"!

Captivated by the Birthday Cake

 My how our two little grandchildren of ours have grown so much this past year.  Emery, our grandson, who lives in PA, turned ONE in January, and he is walking and running everywhere, and talking up a storm too.  Last week, our son, Kevin, called and turned on the speaker phone, so that we could hear Emery talking, and he was saying, "cracker".  He is also being taught "signing" for words, so he signs as well as tries to say the words at the same time.  Very smart little boy indeed!

Emery Slides All by Himself!

Over this past weekend I finished my "April" mini-calendar cover, complete with it's pretty coordinated lining.  If I do say so myself, I am quite proud of it because I tend to shy away from small pieces that require finishing details, but I think it turned out nicely.

Drawn Thread Design
32 Count "Violet Mist" Linen
Needlepoint, Inc. Silks

Calendar Cover Lining

Last week I finally made it back to my sewing group, at our LNS, after a long break with my most recent surgery.  A stitching friend offered to pick me up and take me, and it felt so wonderful being back with all of the girls again!  While there, I just had to poke through some of the newest needlework projects on display, and of course, I couldn't resist purchasing a few of them.  This is my progress so far, on one of them, "Basket of Memories", by Blackbird Designs.  It is to be finished into a little pillow pincushion, complete with ivory lace, since I don't know how to make tatted lace...wish I had learned that lovely needleart from my grandmother!

32 Count Ivory Linen
Gentle Arts Aged Pewter Fibers

The sweetest part of this darling little pincushion, is that it will be filled with "lavender".  Can you just imagine the beautiful aroma that will fill the air?  I can't wait to finish it so that I can fill it!  My LNS packaged up the sweet lavender in this lovely little cellophane bag!

Well, the hour is getting late, and I need to do some laundry and get dinner started before I can relieve my guilt and pick up my stitching again before my dear husband comes home from work.  After all, I need to appear to have done something "productive" with my day.....LOL!!

Until my next post...

Crossing in Stitches With You in Friendship!

Fabulous Spring Giveaway News!

I just wanted to share with you about the fabulous "Rhode Island Stitchers" Spring giveaway.  Please go to their website for complete details about how you can enter to win!  All entries must be received by Friday, April 15th, 2011 @ 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and the winner will be drawn randomly on April 16th, and the winner will be notified.   Fun! Fun!

A Little Stitching Progress....

Yesterday was Ella's "Dedication Ceremony" in church.  She looked like a little princess,  in her beautiful white dress, adorned with puffy silk roses on the bodice.  Here is our daughter, Carra with Ella, before the ceremony started.

We were amazed at how quiet and patient Ella was throughout the ceremony, and didn't protest at all when the Pastor took her from her Daddy's arms.  She just looked inquisitively at the Pastor, and was a perfect little angel.  

Our daughter and her husband had prepared a wonderful lunch at their home, and Ella's best friend, Moya, and her Mommy and Daddy joined us for the celebrations.  The two little girls had a marvelous time opening the gifts and playing together.  They were so cute!

To commemorate Ella's Dedication Ceremony, I was able to finish stitching "Sugar & Spice".  Although the color shadings and backstitching make this piece so lovely and delicate, it was a bit overwhelming to make so many color changes and I was feeling a bit frustrated a times, but the finished product is what "counts", right?

I wrapped it up in pink "rosebuds" tissue paper and placed it in a box with white pastel "sparkled" paper, topped off with white iridescent curly ribbon, and Ella was delighted opening it.  Of course, she loved the wrappings most of all, as you can see in the photos, but her Mummy loved the piece.  It will go to the framer's this week.

Last night, after we got home, I collapsed in my "Stitching Nest", and after sipping a warm cup of tea, fell fast asleep.  Needless to say, not much stitching progress was accomplished, but later in the evening, I pulled out the March "Drawn Thread" calendar cover, and took a few stittches, while watching  Masterpiece Theatre's "Downton Abbey".   No photos to show yet...

Oops!  Meggie, my toy poodle just came down with that look on her face, that says, "Hey, Mum, I think I need to go out!"

Hope that your day is filled with moments of joy, amidst the busyness.  

Crossing in Stitches With You Once Again!

Serenity & Signs of Spring

After a long New England winter, we are all longing for the warmer soft winds and sunshine that have been blessing us here this week. 

My "Stitching Nest", has been my favorite resting and recovery "nest" , post surgery last Friday.  It is so amazing to me, how my "stitching addiction" overtakes the spirit, even when the body has little strength for much of anything else but rest.  Most days, I have had little strength for much of anything but rest, but my needlework rested on  my lap!  My husband  chuckled, seeing me fast asleep with my needle in my hand!  The "needle magic" is slowing returning to my eager fingers!  Funny, but there is this overwhelming desire to hold my needle and feel some of those creative juices flowing again.  It is very soothing and healing.

Here is some of my recent progress on "Sugar & Spice" (Sue Hillis Design).  The color changes to create just the right shading, is a bit maddening, to say the least.  I find it a bit frustrating when there are so many shades of pink or creams that it is difficult to tell them apart sometimes, but it is the overall effect that is most important after all.

Wish that I had more progress to show you, but hopefully this next week will bring some more "magic" back to my needles again!

While looking through one of my favorite devotional books this week, I found this lovely piece about Serenity, which spoke to me, and perhaps it will to you as well.

SERENITY

SERVICE:  Go outside of yourself to derive the satisfaction of helping others.

ETHICS:  Be truthful in all of your doings.

RECONCILIATION:  Ask for forgiveness & make peace with those you've hurt.

ENTHUSIASM:  In all things, large or small, find the pure joy!

NO:  Did you know that "NO" is a complete sentence?  Don't feel guility about using it to allow time for your own needs.

IMAGINATION:  Have vision.  Find a "pasion project", and get to work on it!

TOGETHERNESS:  Don't try to do "everything" yourself!  Accept help & lend a hand to others.

YOU:  Take care of yourself.  Remember that you are very precious in the eyes of God.

Bless you in the days ahead!  Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You!





Each life that touches ours, leaves footprints on our hearts forever, and we will never be the same, for having known them.  God be with you, Lisa Roswell...you were a woman of loveliness, kindness, and incredible talent!  For those of us blessed to have known you, we will miss you dearly.

When I was a little girl, I remember my father telling us that we had to make sure that we made every day count for something special, and to always remember to tell those we loved and cared about, that we "loved them" or "you are so special to me".  For we never know, when we part, and say "good-bye", that it might just be the last time... Life is too short for regrets, so let's make sure, as a tribute to Lisa's memory, that we will try to remember, that when we part from those special people who touch our lives, to give them a hug, or just tell them how special it is, just to be with them. 

 

A special part of my week, has been spending some "Grandma" time with "Miss Ella" (my 11 mo. granddaughter), and our daughter, Carra, who came for lunch.  Ella and Grandma Kathy made corn muffins to go with some home-made chicken vegetable soup.  

                           "Miss Ella's" Corn Muffins & Dolly Teaset


It truly brings me back to the wonderful times that I recall spending time with my own young children, teaching them to bake cookies, muffins and other goodies.  My daughter was always a willing participant from the time she was big enough to stand on a chair next to me at the counter, helping to measure, pour and stir whatever we were making.  My three boys also loved to bake.  In fact, our oldest son, Ryan, became an expert at baking chocolate chip cookies.  When he was a teenager, his church youth group was holding a "silent auction" to raise money for a summer mission trip, and Ryan decided to donate a batch of his "homemade chocolate cookies".  He was so thrilled when someone bid $15.00 for them, and then raved about how delicious they were!


Well, on to what has been going on in the "stitching department" this week.  My friend, Ellen, came over  for  lunch and stitching, but we gabbed so much that we didn't get to use my sewing machine, so I still need to finish a few needlework pieces.  But we did enjoy some wonderful time being together, just relaxing and cross-stitching, over cups of tea and some delicious homemade cranberry, white chocolate chip cookies that Ellen had made.  Yummmm!

Better late than never, but I finished stitching the February "Drawn Thread" calendar cover, and will be putting it together soon with a lovely lining fabric...

I also decided to look into my box of unfinished pieced, and pulled out a Jane Austen WIP, that I started to stitch a few years ago, and never finished.  The design was printed in one of The Gift of Stitching issues, and I just love the sweet verse and lovely colors.  I have the perfect backing fabric, and will be finishing it as a bell pull.

My "Ort" jar is filling up, as I work on my Jane Austen Piece, and I have started another design, called "Sugar and Spice" (Sue Hillis Design), which will be for our granddaughter, Ella.  


I want to stitch something special for our little grandson, Emerson, but the theme of his nursery is all Muppets, and I haven't been able to find a cute Muppet design.  If anyone knows of one, I would love it if you would  post me a message.   


Hope that your weekend has some special moments just for you!  Life is just way too short not to spend some quality time with the people we love and care about, but amidst the busyness, we need to take time to rejuvenate ourselves, and what could be better than cozying up with your favorite stitching project?


Crossing In Friendship & Stitches Once Again With You!

"My Stitching Nest"

When I went for a little walk this morning, the winter winds let me know that the temperatures are still a little "frigid" here in New England, but the warm sun hit my cheeks, and I looked up and smiled.  It felt so good, and I was thankful for a beautiful day in the middle of February!  I am one of those true New England girls who loves winter, even though many of my friends call me crazy, but it is a time for doing quiet things indoors without feeling guilty:)  So, I nestle into my "Stitching Nest", and happily do a little stitching on my latest WIP, sip on my favorite cup of tea, and sigh with happiness!

                                                    My "Stitching Nest"

On Saturday night, I finished stitching "Deepest Love", (Turquoise Graphics & Designs).  I am pleased with the way it came out, but haven't quite decided  if I want to frame it or turn it into a wallhanging with some coordinating quilting fabric.  Hmmm.....  One of my stitching friends, Ellen, is coming over in a few days for a "Stitching Day", so I am looking forward to sharing ideas with her.  Two heads together always makes for a better decision, in my opinion.  So will share with you, at a later date, what I have decided about my final finish.....

So, of course, on Sunday, I had itchy fingers to get started on a new project, and although it's a little late in the month to start a "February" project, I decided to start working on the Drawn Thread February "Mini Pocket Calendar Cover".  My LNS has been awaiting a shipment of Lavender Mist linen since the end of January, (which is called for in the design), but alas, the supplier has it backordered with no definite shipping dates!  So, I went hunting through my stash, and lo and behold, I found a large enough piece of 32 count Lavender Mist linen inside of another package, and it was large enough for both the original design, for which I purchased it, and just enough for my mini pocket calendar too!  Hurray!

I have decided to deviate a bit from the fibers recommended in the pattern and have chosen Vikki Clayton-Dyers' Hand-Dyed silks for my project.  They are very nice to work with, lovely colors and I really like the little spools on which they are wound...so nice and convenient to use and to store too.

This is a really fun design to do because there are both cross stitches and some drawn thread specialty stitches too, which makes it much more interesting and challenging to stitch.  I love designs with a little challenge to the stitching, don't you?  Well, I had best hurry up and finish this design quickly, because February is almost over.  Then I will begin stitching the March mini-pocket calendar cover.  I love seasonal designs, so these designs are right up my alley!

Where ever you are, thank you for visiting my stitching blog.  I love reading other stitching blogs too, and your comments really mean a lot to me.  Hope that your week has some peaceful moments to cherish, just for you, and some special time for stitching, of course!

(A Special Quote for the Day:  "  Be your highest self, your best self and inspire others always."  (G.B.)



Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You!

                                                           

                                                                                                                   

Happy Valentine's Day!

Looking  back to my childhood,  I recall the anticipation of Valentine's Day..... a time when we all exchanged mostly handmade Valentines, made from lace paper doilies and red cut out paper hearts.

 I remember schoolday Valentine parties,  complete with candy hearts and some special pink, red and white cupcakes or cookies, and exchanging Valentines with my classmates.  All of it was special...the intrigue of receiving one or two unsigned Valentines!


Well, I didn't finish "Deepest Love" in time for Valentine's Day, but, but it  is coming along nicely.

I'm trying to decide whether to finish it as a banner with some nice colored borders, or whether to have it framed.  Framing is so expensive, and I am not an expert finisher when it comes to doing my own framing.   Hmmm....

This lovely scissors set and keeper were made by one of my stitching friends, Shirley, from a Wednesday morning stitching group that I attend at my LNS.  It is stitched over one!  I especially love the little twisted cording and beautiful little mother of pearl buttons attached to the scissors.  So special!

 Our 10 month old granddaughter, Ella is wearing her pretty little velour "hearts" top to celebrate Valentine's Day.  We are babysitting for her tonight so that our daughter and her husband can go out to celebrate Valentine's Day.  It is always such a joy to have Ella come to visit Grandma and Grandpa!

Wishing you a Valentine Basket full of hearts of love, that your heart may filled to overflowing with the greatest gift of all....LOVE!